SIX SLICK SHOOTOUT

There was a time when slicks were the exclusive plaything of motorcycling’s racing elite, but nowadays they’re more common than herpes, littering club racing paddocks and trackdays as plentifully as their tread-rife counterparts. And why the hell not? Slicks have got a lot going for them, boasting superior grip levels, increased stability and multiplied bragging rights to your friends on social media… even if you’re lacking the minerals to back up their potential on track.Yes, slicks are a brilliant asset, but when it comes to choosing the right pair for you and your bike, what are the best options to run? Which hoops are set to give you the most grip; the best level of feel; the durability to last longer than a pint down the boozer? We were curious, so we press-ganged the market’s leading six options on to a lorry, smuggled them through customs and subjected them to three solid days of abuse on one of Spain’s very best race tracks – Parcmotor. It was a tough job (don’t cry for me), being rigorously governed, working to manufacturer’s specs (tyre temperatures and pressures) on a strict three-session per tyre schedule, under a scorchio 25°C sun with one simple goal: to determine the king of slicks. As for scoring them, each tyre was ranked according to six key pieces of criteria, giving you a more rounded perspective of the good, the bad and the sometimes quirky tendencies of these track-focused fiends. Here’s how it went…

MICHELIN POWER SLICK EVO

LAP TIME: 1 . 50 . 049

If we’d of sneaked a set of slicks from Michelin’s MotoGP allocation, I don’t doubt this report would be reading very differently, but, the truth is, the Michelin Power Slick Evo was found wanting out in Spain. It wasn’t the first tyre I tested, but it was the first to set alarm bells ringing. What was so wrong